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Simon Van Der Borgh

Writer

SWF '07

Simon studied screenwriting at the National Film & Television School and was the first UK writer to be selected on the script development programme at the Binger Film Institute in Amsterdam in 1996. He has written 12 feature film screenplays and a full-length theatre play. He wrote the script for THE ALCHEMIST OF HAPPINESS, an award-winning film by Ovidio Salazar that has played at festivals worldwide.

Simon is also one of the UK's leading screenwriting teachers, working for film agencies and development organisations such as Arista, North by Northwest, Screen Yorkshire, North West Vision, LMU, Lighthouse and Goldsmiths. He consults on feature scripts in Europe & the USA; projects include Kidulthood (2006), Justin Kerrigan's screenplay I Know you Know, Larman Register (producer Sally Hibbin), and Teah (2007).

Veena Verdi

Editor

SWF '06 & '08

The problem with Veena Verdi, in the past, was that she wanted to do everything. She still does, but now she channels all her interests into editing Channel 4's IDEASFACTORY.

IDEASFACTORY is distinctive in many regards, not least in terms of its unique blend of online and on-the-ground activity to assist its users in getting in and getting on in the Creative Industries. This has proved to be a judicious combination, getting the best of both worlds - inspiration from real-life encounters; networking, showcasing and collaboration from on-line.Regional ‘hubs' in West Midlands, Scotland, Highlands & Islands and Northern Ireland provide a unique hands-on approach to discovering, nurturing and monitoring the progress of local talent. Workshops and masterclasses are developed for various disciplines, dependent on regional priorities and strengths, and attendees given exclusive opportunities to network with leading industry players and showcase themselves and their talents.

Jake West

Writer/Director

SWF '07 

Jake West has worked extensively as a writer/director in the film/TV industry since 1993 in features, tv, short films, promos and commercials. Also Jake works as an editor for commercials, trailers and promos. His work includes the Trainspotter, a comedy short, and Club Death, a Fantasy/Horror drama. He has Already won a prize in the California Film Festival.

Micheal Wiese

Director/Writer

SWF '08 

Michael Wiese is an America filmmaker, author, and publisher who lives in Cornwall. His company Michael Wiese Productions (www.mwp.com) also has offices in LA and Seattle. He is best known in the writing community for publishing bestsellers The Writer's Journey (Chris Vogler), Save the Cat (Blake Snyder), Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds (Michael Hauge), The Best Screenplay Goes to... (Linda Seger) and over 100 books on all aspects of filmmaking.

He also produces and directs films, television and videos. His film The Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lamas was just in the film market at Cannes. He will direct Bali Brothers, a supernatural drama of sibling rivalry about the wounds that are opened up when two brothers fall in love with a Balinese witch.

Michael Wilson

Leacturer

SWF '08

Michael Wilson is Professor of Drama and Head of Research at the University of Glamorgan. Together with Richard Hand, they have published volumes and articals on the subject of 'Grand-Guignol', the French Theatre of Horror. Michael is also the author of 'Storytelling and Theatre: Contemporary Practitioners and their Art,' as well as numerous articles on Bertolt Brecht and his contemporaries. Michael also regularly acts, often in Grand Guignol horror plays.

Jurgen Wolff

Writer/Coach

SWF '07 

Jurgen Wolff is a writer and creativity coach and lecturer. He has written over 100 episodes of television, including "Relic Hunter," "Family Ties," and "Benson," TV movies including the Olsen Twins' "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble," the mini-series, "Midnight Man" starring Rob Lowe, and the feature film, "The Real Howard Spitz," starring Kelsey Grammer.

His new book is "Your Writing Coach," (Nicholas Brealey, London, 2007) and his website is www.yourwritingcoach.com. He also has a podcast available on his website, and a writing blog, www.timetowrite.blogs.com. He is a certified hypnotherapist and NLP and Time Line practitioner.  

Stephen Woolley

Producer/Director

SWF '06 & '08

Stephen Woolley has spent a lifetime steeped in movies and filmmaking. His career began in 1976 at the Screen on the Green cinema in London where he tore tickets, sold ice cream, projected films and helped manage the cinema.

In 1982, Woolley launched Palace Video in partnership with Nik Powell, releasing titles such as Eraserhead and Mephisto. The company went on to acquire, market and distribute some 250 independent and European movies from The Evil Dead to When Harry Met Sally. During this period Woolley's producing career flourished (Absolute Beginners, Shag and Scandal, The Big Man, A Rage in Harlem and The Pope Must Die).

Breakfast on Pluto, saw a continuation of Woolley's long-term partnership with director Neil Jordan which began with The Company of Wolves in 1983. Their other collaborations include The End of The Affair, Michael Collins, Interview With The Vampire, and Oscar-winning The Crying Game. Woolley also produced Jordan's Oscar nominated Mona Lisa and as an executive producer enjoys credits which include Fever Pitch and Little Voice.

In 2005 Woolley made his directorial debut with Stoned. His recent projects as producer have included And When Did You Last See Your Father? Forthcoming projects include Perrier's Bounty, Edith and the Lonely Doll, and We Want Sex. How To Lose Friends & Alienate People was release on October 3rd 2008.  

Alex Worrall

Director/Producer

SWF '08 

Alex Worrall has been working in television since 1997 as a producer, director and development executive. He was the Head of Development for Granada in New York where his most notable success was devising and formating the hit MTV series Room Raiders. He then moved back to London to become the Head of Development for MTV UK and Europe. He is now a freelance development exec, comedy writer and director and is currently watching every episode of The Larry Sanders Show for the second time.